::

::

::

8.26.2009

thank you

Wow.

And I say "wow" only because, this being a blog and all, I need to type something. The truth is, I've been sitting here staring at this blank, white screen for waaay longer than I'd like to admit. There are simply no words. So I hope you'll bear with me as I try to express a fraction of my gratitude.

If, last August, someone had gazed into a crystal ball and revealed to me what the following year would bring, news of three brain surgeries would have shaken me to the core. But even more shocking, I think, would have been the part about the hundreds - dare I say, thousands? - of people I have never met who would be waiting for me on the other side of it all, sending love and cheering me on. I never would have believed it.

All I can say is thank you. Really, thank you. You all just blow me away.

When I took a deep breath, swallowed hard, and released that last, terrifying post into the world, I thought you might look away. I wouldn't have blamed you. But instead, you stepped closer. You let me hear your sweet voices, some of you for the very first time. You turned on your ovens, and your warm wishes sailed in on banana-scented breezes. My family members were the first to benefit from your generosity. They sat in the waiting room nibbling banana bread, and read your kind notes as they drifted in. Later that evening, Eli pulled up a chair by my bed and read your words aloud. This tiny sliver of virtual space, my little Sweet Amandine, was bursting at the seams. It's a wonder she didn't explode. Throughout the ups and downs of the last few weeks, I have turned to your voices again and again. Every word of every comment lifts me up. You have no idea.

This year, it has been easy to count my lucky stars. You know how it is with stars: The darker the sky, the brighter they shine. I count all of you among them, dear, shimmering readers. The sky above me is aglow with your twinkling.

Hey, I just realized that I've left out something very important, which is that I'm feeling great. It sure is nice having my head back in one piece. Forehead, I missed you. Seriously.

Last Wednesday, August 19th, marked one year since the aneurysm ruptured. My "aneurversary," as I like to call it. (How many people get to have one of those?) I celebrated by going for a short, slow run with Eli. It was more like a shuffle-jog, actually, but no matter. I felt like I was flying. Afterwards, I made the same fruit smoothie that I've slurped every day since returning home from the hospital. It tasted especially good post-"workout." I know that you don't really need a recipe for a thing like this, but I didn't want to show up today empty-handed. After this whole ordeal, you deserve a special treat, one with layers, and loads of frosting, and a cherry on top. Then again, given the heat, something cold, fruity, and sip-able might just hit the spot. (Dictionary.com wonders if I mean "skippable" or "rippable," but I assure you that I do, indeed, mean "sip-able," whether or not it is a real word.)

In any case, here you go.

And now, onward! Let's get Sweet Amandine back to her regularly scheduled programming, shall we? Yes, oh yes, we shall.

[p.s. Before signing off, I want to take a moment to thank Elisa, Jory, and Lisa over at BlogHer for voting me "BlogHer of the Week." I am honored and humbled to be in the company of such talented bloggers. Lisa, I owe you a special thank you for writing so beautifully and sensitively about Sweet Amandine. I was truly moved by your words. And to the reader who nominated Sweet Amandine for this distinct honor - whoever you are - many thanks to you. You are so good to me. All of you.]

The short version of this recipe is as follows: Dump all of the ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth.

But of course, I just have to add my two cents. I find that piling the ingredients banana first (broken into chunks), then berries, then ground flaxseeds, and then pouring the almond milk over top, results in the most efficient and enjoyable blending experience. The bananas around the blade quickly turn to mush, which allows for some much-needed blending action around the hard, frozen berries. After about twenty seconds, if the spinning blade doesn't seem to be making progress, I turn off the machine, remove the pitcher, and give it a shake or two. Then, I blend until smooth.

Welcome back, my dear. I'm so happy to see your words again. I'm delighted also to read that you went for a shuffle-jog---must have felt amazing. I'm going to make quick work of this recipe as soon as I pick up some almond milk. Cheers!

oneordinaryday - Thank you for the cheers and warm wishes. It's so good to be back.

Jennifer - Thanks, and yes, it is. I am in awe, and so grateful.

Julie - Hello! You are so sweet. It's funny, I've been home for a while now, but writing this post feels like a homecoming all over again. And a very special one at that. Thank you for the welcome.

I've never thought of taking my smoothie to go. I wonder if I could make it last long enough to be worth the transport. (I tend to be a speedy smoothie slurper.)

Char - Our little Sweet Amandine is not even eight months old; I don't think it's possible for you to be "late" this early in the game! We are still very much at the beginning. Welcome to chapter one. I'm so glad you're here.

Ciao Chow Linda - Thank you.

janna - Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts despite the silence around here. Such a warm welcome back means a lot after these weeks away.

And Jen - Hi! Yes, it was amazing. When I say it felt like flying, I'm not kidding.

Jess - It was so incredibly nice to see your blog pop up in my reader today! I am very pleased to hear that you are feeling well and are moving around the kitchen again.

You have described my every-summer-morning breakfast nearly exactly as I make it! Lately I've been substituting frozen peaches from a local orchard for the berries, but the unsweetened almond milk, flax seeds and banana are exactly like mine. We are definitely on the same wavelength, m'dear!

Keep up your amazing progress. I wish you many more runs and kitchen adventures in the very near future!

I wish I had been keeping better track of my "must reads" this summer so that I could have read about your surgery sooner. I am so glad you are home and ok, I can only imagine how happy you must be. Welcome back and enjoy every moment.

So so glad to have you back, jogging and slurping and telling us about the darkness that makes stars shine brighter (I quite agree) - we've missed you, Jess. I love your stories and your depth. Welcome home, again.

Andrea - "...moving around the kitchen again." Well said. That's exactly how it begins for me, before I start actually cooking again. Thank you for the warm welcome back.

Eva - Hi! How fun hearing from you in this space. I'm so glad that you enjoyed the chocolates. Thank you for the smoothie toast. I hope that soon we can raise a glass in person.

Frenchie - Thanks for your note. Not to worry; you didn't miss much. Surgery is boring. It's all of the life that follows that is the fun part!

Karinanne - Thank you. Enjoy the smoothie!

petoskystone - Beautiful. Happy stargazing to you.

megan - Oh, you. Let's talk soon.

bluejeangourmet - Thanks for the welcome back. It's ever so good to be here. After this last year, there is nothing about the body that could possibly gross me out, so no need to worry. I'm a yogurt girl too, but I prefer it on a spoon rather than through a straw.

jacqui, Lindsey, and Shannalee - Thank you, thank you, and thank you. It means so much to me that you're all still here after such a long silence. I've certainly missed you.

I went to Sweet Amandine to reread recipes and stay connected, and a gift greeted me - a new entry, a recipe and enchanting photographs! I wish you continued health, happiness, and meals shared with loved ones...

Almond milk! Do you believe I had never tried almond milk before tonight when I made this happy little concoction (alas, without blueberries) for dessert? I think I'll be having this every morning for breakfast from now on.

Thank *you*! You are an inspiration, especially to my good friend Catherine, another food blogger who has gone through a similar ordeal as you: http://madeleine.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/12/happy-new-year.html